Bible in one year 7/23/2022 Esther Chapter 7-10
By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries : Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling
Chapter 7 Esther’s banquet ; Haman handed
instead of Mordecai,
The king and Haman went
to dine with Queen Esther, the king asked again, “ Queen Esther, what is your
petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the
kingdom, it will be granted.” (v.2). The Queen Esther answered,
“ If I have found favor
with you, O king and if it pleases your majesty, grant me my life, this my
petition. And spare my people this is my request. For I and my people have
been sold for destruction and slaughter and annihilation. If
we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet,
because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.”
King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “ Who is he? Where is
the man who has dared to do such a thing?” Esther said, “ The
adversary and enemy is this vile Haman.” (v.6). The Haman was
terrified before the king and queen. The king got up in a rage, left his wine
and went out into the palace garden. But Haman realizing that the king had
already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life. Just
as the king returned form the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman
was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “
Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?” as
soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. Then
Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “ A gallows
seventy-five feet high stands by Haman’s house. He had it made for Mordecai,
who spoke up to the help the king.” The king said, “
Hang him on it!” So they handed Hamand on the gallows he
had prepared for Mortdecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.
Chapter 8 the Decree of King Xerxes and Mordecai
That same day King
Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had told how he was
related to her. The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from
Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s
estate. (vv.1-2). Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and
weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite,
which he had devised against the Jews. Then the king extended the gold scepter
to Esther and she arose and stood before him.(vv.3-4). She said,
“ If it please the king,
and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he
is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that
Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in
all the king’s provinces. For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people?
How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?”(vv.5-6).
King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Because
Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have
hanged him on the gallows. Now write another decree in the king’s name in
behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet
ring for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be
revoked.”(vv.7-8)
At once the royal secretaries were summoned on
the twenty third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all
Mordecai’s order to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors and nobles of the
127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. These orders were written in the
script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in
their own script and language.(v.9). The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city
the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate
any armed force of any nationality or province that might attack them and their
women and children; and to plunder the property of their enemies. (v.11). A
copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and
made known to the people of every nationality so that the Jews would be ready
on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. (v.13). Mordecai left the
king’s presence wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold
and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous
celebration. For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness
and honor. (v.16) In every province and in every city, wherever the
edict of the king went, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with
feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews
because fear of the Jews had seized them.(v.17).
Though
the king could not revoke the previous decree Haman had devised
(Dan.6:8,12,15), there was no reason why a counter decree could not be issued.
Mordecai proceeded to issue such a decree with the king’s approval, thereby
permitting the Jews to defend themselves, kill their attackers, and take spoils
on the day Haman’s decree was to become effective. The counter decree was
issued in June and disseminated posthaste, allowing the Jews about eight months
to prepare to defend themselves. (vv.8-14). Many people of other nationalities
embraced the religion of Judaism as proselytes. (v.17).
Chapter 9 the defeat of Israel’s Enemies
On the thirteenth day of
the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the edict commanded by the king was to be
carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped ot overpower them,
but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who
hated them. The Jews assembled in their cities in all the provinces of King
Xerxes to attack those seeking their destruction. No one could stand against
them, because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of
them.(vv.1-2). And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors
and the king’s administrators helped the Jews, because fear of Mordecai had
seized them. (v.3). The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, and
they did what pleased to those who hate them. in the citadel of Susa, the Jews
killed and destroyed five hundred men. They also killed Parshandatha, Dalphon,
Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizatha, the
ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But they did not
lay their hands on the plunder.(vv.5-10). Esther asked king to give the Jews in
Susa permission to carry out this day’s edict tomorrow also, and let Haman’s
ten sons be hanged on gallows. (v.13). Meanwhile, the remainder of the Jews who
were in the king’s provinces also assembled to protect themselves and get
relief from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of them but didn’t
lay their hands on the plunder. (v.16).
The Days of Purim
Mordecai
recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the
provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, to have them celebrate annually the
fourteen and fifteenth days of the month of Adar. (vv.20-21). As the time when the Jews
got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy
and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days
of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the
poor. (v.22) Jews in the provinces celebrated their victory on the 14th day
of Adar, while Jews in Susa waited until the 15th. Eventually
Mordecai ordered that both days should be observed annually as the Feast of
Purim. (vv.17-22).
Later a second letter was written by
Esther and Mordecai together, in which they enjoined fasting (which they had
personally been observing) on all Jews in connection with Purim. (vv.29-31)
Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail,
along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second
letter concerning Purim. And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in the 127
provinces of the kingdom of Xerxes words of goodwill and assurance to establish
these days of Purim at their designated times, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen
Esther had decreed for them, and as they had established for themselves and
their descendants in regard to their times of fasting and lamentation. Esther’s
decree confirmed these regulation about Purim, and it was written down in the
records. (vv.29-32).
Chapter 10 the description of Mordecai’s Fame
King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the
empire, to its distant shores. And all his acts of power and might, together
with a full account of the greatness of Mordecai to which the king had raised
him, are they not written in the book of the annals of the king of media and
Persia? Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among
the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked
for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.
(vv.1-3) Mordecai held the office of first minister no longer than eight years.
for secular history records that another man was in that office in 465.
Bibliography,
Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago,
IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986
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